Hide-working machine.



J. W. AULSON. HIDE WORKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 12, 1910.

' Patented 'Dec. 12, 19151.

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J. W. AULSON. HIDE WORKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.12, 1910.

1,01 1,306. Patented Dec. 12, 19 1.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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J. W. AULSON.

HIDE WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11m 12, 1910.

1,01 1,306. Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. W. AULSON. HIDE WORKING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1910.

1,:01 1,306. I Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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HIDE-WORKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN 1V. AULsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hide-NVorking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hide-working machines, and has for its object the production of a machine of this class in which knife blades or other working members are mounted upon an endless chain or apron and a flat bed is used as a hide support, means being provided whereby the hide support and the knife blades or other working members are moved toward and from each other at the will of the operator.

The invention is an improvement on the invention shown and described in Letters Patent No. 890,750, issued to me June 16, 1908.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of this invention, the hide support being shown in position for the hide or skin to be operated upon by the knife blades or other working members. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section of the same.

. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for grinding the blades upon the movable endless chain or carrier, a portion of the same being broken in section. Fig. 4 represents a partial vertical section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 44 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents an elevation of a portion of the same, parts thereof being broken in section. represents a rear elevation of the driving mechanism for said grinder. Fig. 7 represents a front elevation of the left hand end of the machine with the parts in the rear omitted. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of the device for steadying the endless chain or apron while the blades thereon are being operated upon by means of the grinder. Fig. 9 represents a horizontal section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 99 on Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 represents a vertical section of the clutch mechanism.

Similar characters designate like parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 12, 1910.

Fig. 6

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 596,982;

throughout the several figures of the draw lngs.

In the drawings, 10 and 11 represent the two side frames ofthe machine, which are provided at 12 with bearings for the driving shaft 13, and which are connected to gether by the tie girts 14 and 15. The shaft 13 is driven by the pulley 16 and it has mounted thereon and keyed thereto a pinion 17. This pinion 17 engages with and im parts motion to a spur gear 18 on the shaft 19, said shaft 19 also having secured thereto a pinion 20 which meshes with a spur gear 21 on the revoluble shaft 22. Keyed to this revoluble shaft 22 are two sprocket wheels 23 and 24, which are located near the inner walls of theside frames 10 and 11. The upper end of the side frames 10 and 11 are each provided with a slot 25, in which is adjustably mounted a block 26, these blocks 26 forming bearings for the revoluble shaft 27, having secured thereto sprocket wheels 28 and 29, in the same vertical plane with the sprocket wheels 23 and 24.

On the sprocket wheels 23 and 28 is mounted an endless chain or carrier 30, and similarly mounted upon the sprocket wheels 24 and 29 is a like chain or carrier 31. EX- tending from one chain or carrier 30 to the other chain or carrier 31, and spaced at intervals throughout the entire length of said carriers 30 and 31, are secured the crosspieces or bars 32, the ends of which extend slightly beyond said chains 30 and 31. On the cross members or bars 32 are secured blades or other hide-working members 33, adapted to operate upon a hide or skin as the endless chains or belts 30 and 31 are moved by the sprocket wheels, upon which they are mounted. These chains 30 and 31 when in operation move in the direction of the arrows a on Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Interposed between the side frames 10 and 11 are the tie girts 34, to the front and rear faces of which are secured the back supports 35 for the knife-carrying apron, it being self-evident that as this apron moves in the direction of the arrow a the bars 32 forming a part thereof. move along on the outer faces of these back supports 35, thereby providing an unyielding backing for the apron when the working members thereon are operating upon the hide, or when these blades or working members are themselves being sharpened. The blades 33, when operating upon the hide, operate substantially in the same manner as in my prior patent heretofore referred to.

In a slot in each side frame 10 and 11 is slidably mounted a block 36, forming a bearing for the ends of an oscillating shaft 37, to which are secured the arms 38, to the upper rear faces of which is secured the.

plate 39, having superimposed thereon the bolster 40, said plate 39 and bolster 40 forming a suitable support for the hide or skin to be operated upon. A revoluble shaft 41 is similarly mounted in slidable blocks 42 in slots formed in the front upper ends of the side frames 10 and 11. To this shaft 41 are secured the cam members 43 adapted to bear against the bearing members 44, pivotally secured at 45 to the plate 39 of the hide support. This bearing member 44 is adapted to be adjusted about the pivot 45 by means of threaded members 46. The blocks 42 are acted upon by means of the coiled springs 47 interposed between said blocks and plates 48, which plates are adapted to be moved longitudinally of the slots in which said blocks are mounted by means of the threaded members 49 in order to vary the tension of said spring. The outward movement of the block 42 is limited by the adjustable stop member 50 on the member 51 extending rearwardly from each of said blocks. Veighted arms 52 are secured to the oscillating shaft 37 and serve to retain bearing members 44 of the hide support in contact with the cam members 43. Between each of the blocks 36 and the plates 53 is interposed a spring 54, the tension of which is regulated by means of the threaded member 55. The block 36 is also provided with a member 53 extending rearwardly, this member 53 having adjustably mounted thereon a stop member 56 adapted to limit the outward movement of each block 36. It is obvious, therefore, that as the cams 43 rotate, the hide support will be moved into operative position, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or from this operative position into a position for the substitution of a new hide-for one already operated upon. It is obvious that when the hide-support is in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the hide is being operated upon by the movement of the blades or other working members 33 over the face thereof, the hide support is adapted to yield when subjected to any undue pres sure by means of the blocks 36 and 42 moving slightly away from the endless apron against the tension of the springs 47 and 54.

The upper end of the plate 39 of the hide support is provided with a member 57 having a semi-cylindrical groove therein, extending from one end of the plate 39 to its opposite end. This groove is adapted to receive the clamping member 58 secured to the oscillating member 59, each end of which is mounted in a block 60. The block 60 is adapted to slide vertically in the bearing member 61 secured to the upper end of each side frame, and is retained in its normal position by means of the spring 62.

To one end of the oscillating member 59 is secured an arm 63, which arm normally rests upon a pin 64, extending outwardly from the end ofthe member 57, so that as the hide support is moved about its pivot 37 the clamping member 58 is always retained in the path of the groove in the member 57 so that as the hide support approaches the endless apron or carrier, the clamping member 58 will enter the groove in said member 57 and securely clamp the hide or skin thereto so that it may be firmly held during the operation of the blades 33 thereon. As soon as the hide support moves away from the endless carrier or apron, the pin 64 will act upon the arm 63 and carry it out of the groove in the member 57 and automatically unclamp the hide so that it may be removed and a new one placed in position upon the bolster 40.

In the ears 65, projecting upwardly from the tie girt 14, is pivotally mounted a treadle 66, between one arm 67 of which and the levers 68, pivoted at its lower end to the bracket 69, is interposed a link or rod 70. The upper end of the lever 68 is forked, and has formed thereon or secured thereto projections 71 extending into an annular groove 72 in a slidable clutch member 73 keyed to the revoluble cam shaft 41. Between the slidable clutch member 73 and the block 42, in which said shaft 41 is mounted, is interposed a sprocket wheel 74, having formed thereon a co-acting clutch member 75. Normally these clutch members 73 and 75 are separated by means of the spring 76 interposed between them. When the treadle 66 is not depressed, the spring 76 acts upon the member 73 to move it outwardly on the shaft 41 until the stop 77 comes into contact with the end frame 10 and limits further outward movement thereof. The operator, by placing his foot on the treadle 66, and depressing it, may, through the connecting rod and lever 68, move the clutch members 73 ad into engagement, and cause the cam shaft 41 to be rotated by means of the sprocket wheel 74, which is being continuously revolved by means of the chain 78 also passing over a sprocket wheel 79 secured to and driven by the shaft 22.

Secured to the rear of the side frames 10 and 11 are brackets 80, between which is interposed thetie girt 15, these brackets 80 being provided with suitable bearings for the revoluble shafts 81 and 82. On one end of the shaft 81 is mounted a pulley 83, which is driven by means of a belt 84 passing over a pulley 85 on the driving shaft 13. Similarly the shaft 82 is driven by means of a belt 86 passing over a pulley 87 on the shaft 82, and a pulley 88 on the revoluble shaft 19. Between the brackets 80 the shaft 82 is provided with a right and left hand thread or groove 82 into which extends the forked member 89 pivoted at 90 to the carrier 91. This carrier 91 is adapted to slide on the ways 92 formed upon the tie girt 15 partially surrounding said shaft 82. It is obvious that as the shaft 82 is revolved, the right and left hand grooves 82 will act upon the forked member 89 to reciprocate the carrier 91 between the brackets 80. This carrier 91 is provided with ways 92 transverse of the tie girt 15, and on these ways is mounted a grinder supporting frame 93. This frame 93 is provided with suitable bearings for the revoluble grinder shaft 94, to the one end of which is secured the grinder disk 95, by means of the clamping members 96, positioned within a depression within the outer face of said grinder member. The opposite end of the shaft 94 has keyed thereto a pulley 97, from which a belt 98 extends over a pulley 99 on the shaft 81. This pulley 99 is adapted to travel lengthwise of the shaft 81 with the carrier 91 and grinder supporting frame 93, so that whenever the grinder disk 95 is traveling from one edge of the endless apron or blade carrier to its opposite edge, the grinder shaft 94 will be continuously revolved by means of the pulley 99, through the instrumentalities of the belt 98 and the pulley 97 upon the grinder shaft 941. Normally, however, when the machine is in operation, the grinder disk 95 is removed from the path of the edge of the blades 33. When, however, the blades become dull and it is desired to sharpen them, the grinder disk 95 may be brought into position to operate thereon by actuating the hand wheel 100 on the shaft 101, this shaft having keyed thereto and slidable thereon a worm 102 meshing with the worm gear 103 secured to the end of the revoluble threaded memberlOt, the thread portion of which engages a nut 105 formed upon the grinder supporting frame 93. It is obvious, therefore, that as the shaft 101 is revolved, the worm 102 will actuate the worm gear 103 to rotate the threaded member 104 sufficiently to move the grinder frame 93 on the ways 92 into position for the grinder disk 95 to operate upon the edges of the blades 33, or from such operative position, as desired.

It is self-evident that when the grinder disk 95 is in operative position and the endless carrier or apron is moving in the direction of the arrows a, the driving mechanism of the machine will cause the grinder disk to revolve, while at the same time it is being reciprocated back and forth from one edge of the apron to its opposite edge, so that the edges of all the blades will be uniformly sharpened when the operation of the different parts has been continued for a short period of time. lVhen this has been accomplished, the grinder disk is again moved into inoperative position, and the belts 84 and 86 may then be removed until it is again desired to sharpen the knives.

The ends of the cross members or bars 32 of the endless apron or carrier rest upon the back supports 35* secured to the end frames 10 and 11, and freely move over the same when the blades or working members are operating upon the hide or skin. When, however, it is desired to grind the edges of the blades to sharpen them, it is essential that some provision be made whereby these blades will travel in a perfectly straight path. The means for accomplishing this result is shown in Figs. 2, 8, and 9.

Brackets 106 are secured to the rear edges of the end frames 10 and 11. Each of these brackets is provided with a lateral projection 107 having an opening therethrough, through which extends a rod 108 secured to the bar 109 adapted to rest upon the outer face of the crossbars 32 and retain them in contact with the back support 35*. Between the projection 107 and the bar 109 is interposed a spring 110, having sufficient tension to hold the bar 109 in sufficiently firm con tact with the back support 35 to insure these cross members 32 traveling in a. straight path while the blades 33 thereon are being ground. The outer threaded end of the member 108 is provided with an adjustable stop member 111, which is out of contact with the projection 107 when the blades 33 are being ground, but when the sharpening operation has been completed this member 111 is moved into contact with the projection 107 sufiiciently to compress the spring 110 and remove the bar 109 from contact with the cross members 32 so that these cross members may again freely move along the backsupports 35 and 35 without unnecessary friction. This makes a very convenient form of hide-working machine, and is particularly adapted for de-hairing, but especially for fine hairing and removing the short hairs.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood without any further description.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. The combination with a vertically inclined pivoted hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; and cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it about its pivot into operative position.

2. The combination with a vertically inclined pivoted hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; bearing members adjustably secured to the rear face of said hide support; a revoluble shaft; and cams on said shaft acting on said bearing members to move it about its pivot into operative position.

3. The combination with a Vertically inclined pivoted hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it about its pivot into operative position; and power mechanism for rotating said shaft.

4. The combination with a vertically inclined pivoted hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it about its pivot into operative position; power mechanism for rotating said shaft; and clutch mechanism interposed between said power mechanism and said revoluble shaft.

The combination with a vertically inclined pivoted hide support having av fiat working surface; means: at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; cams on said shaft acting 011 said hide support to move it about its pivot into operative position; power mechanism for rotating said shaft; clutch mechanism interposed between said power mechanism and said revoluble shaft; a spring for normally separating the clutch members; and a treadle for engaging said members.

6. The combination with a vertically inclined pivoted hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; mechanism operable by said shaft for moving said hide support into operative position; a revoluble clutch member loosely mounted on said shaft; a coaoting member keyed to and slidable on said shaft and adapted to engage the first mentioned clutch member; a spring for normally separating said members; a stop for limiting the movement of said spring; and treadle mechanism for bringing said clutch members into engagement.

7. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act on the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grooved member secured to said hide support; and a swinging clamp member adapted to enter said groove during the movement of said hide support into operative position and clamp the hide thereto.

8. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act on the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grooved member secured to said hide support; a swinging clamp member adapted to enter said groove during the movement of said hide support into operative position and clamp the hide thereto; and yielding members in which said swinging member is mounted.

9. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act on the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grooved member secured to said hide support; a swinging clamp member adapted to enter said groove during the movement of said hide support into operative position and clamp the hide thereto; yielding members in which said swinging member is mounted; and means for retaining said clamp member in the path of said grooved member during the movement of said hide support.

10. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it into operative position; and yielding members in which said shaft is mounted.

11. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon the hide on said support; a revoluble shaft; cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it into operative position; slidable blocks in which said shaft is mounted; springs acting on said blocks; and means for regulating the tension of said springs.

12. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of blades adapted to act upon the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grinder adapted to be moved into position to grind said blades; a back support at each end of said carrier opposite to said grinder; a bar coacting with said back support adapted to bear on the opposite face of said carrier; and a yielding member adapted to force said bar into contact with said carrier and said carrier into contact with said back support.

13. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of blades adapted to act upon the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grinder adapted to be moved into position to grind said blades; a back support at each end of said carrier opposite to said grinder; a bar coacting with said back support adapted to bear on the opposite face of said carrier; a yielding member adapted to force said bar into contact with said carrier and said carrier into contact with said back support; and means for limiting the inward movement of said bar.

14. The combination with a hide support; an endless carrier provided with a plurality of blades adapted to act upon the hide on said support; means for moving said hide support into operative position; a grinder adapted to be moved into position to grind said blades; a back support at each end of said carrier opposite to said grinder; a bar coacting with said back support adapted to bear on the opposite face of said carrier; brackets opposite said back support; extensions on said bar projecting through openings in said brackets; a spring interposed between said bracket and bar; and limiting stops on said extensions.

15. The combination with an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon a hide; a support for said hides pivoted at its lower end; a revoluble shaft, opposite the upper end of said hide support; and cams thereon adapted to move said support about its pivot into operative position.

16. The combination with an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon a hide; a support for said hides pivoted at its lower end; a revoluble shaft, opposite the upper end of said hide support; cams thereon adapted to move said support about its pivot into operative position; arms secured to the pivot member; and weights thereon adapted to retain said support in contact with said cams.

17. The combination with an endless carrier provided with a plurality of working members adapted to act upon a hide; a support for said hide pivoted at its lower end; a revoluble shaft, opposite the upper end of said hide support; cams thereon adapted to move said support about its pivot into operative position; slidable blocks in which the pivot member is mounted; springs coacting thereon; and means for regulating the tension of said springs.

18. The combination with a vertically inclined hide support having a flat working surface; means at its upper end for clamping a hide thereto; downwardly and rearwardly extending members secured to the rear face of said hide support; a frame to which the lower ends of said members are pivotally connected; an endless carrier movably supported upon said frame and provided with a plurality of blades; a revoluble shaft in the rear of the upper part of said hide support; and cams on said shaft acting on said hide support to move it about its pivot into operative position.

Signed by me at 4 Post Office Sq., Boston, Mass, this 9th day of December 1910.

JOHN W. AULSON.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD; NATHAN C. LOMBARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

